Electric circuit interrupter



Apnl 7, 1936. A. c. EHRENBERG Er A1. 2,036,800

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed July 15, 1932 Lnvehtorvs: Arthur C. Ehrenberg, Gusto? A.Juh|ih, bg MMM/N Thai-r' Atorheg.

a second transverse passage l5 similar in configuration to the passage B and bounded on its lower side by a bottom partition i6 provided with an orice ll through which the movable member I may pass, and spaced from the partition l2 by a spacing Washer 8a, similar to the washer 8.

The diameter o the chamber il denoted in Figs. 2 and 4 by the dotted line 2i is substarnl tially equal to the width of the explosion cham:1 ber 2 and its height is such that an appreciable volume oi; insulating liquid may be contained therein.

It will be observed that the movable contact member in opening the circuit passes through a series of chambers, each holding a considerable volume of the insulating liquid and communicating with each other by means of ythe orifices through which said movable member travels, and each commtmicating by way of said 'orifice or orir'lces and the transverse passages with the main body oi liquid outside the explosion chamu ber structure.

in operation, lowering of the movable contact i to open the circuit causes formation of an arc within the main explosion chamber 2 which generates and builds up high pressure within the chamber due to the decomposing action oi the arc on the insulating liquid. is the contact l continues its downward movement and passes through and clears the transverse passage the arc ii lengthened to 'this point, is subjected to a transverse blast of insulating liquid from the chamber 2 by way oi the connnunicating orifice 2li. due to the fact 'that the chamber i2 is substantially pressure confining immediately subsequent to clearing of the restricted transverse passage 6 except by way of said passage. Further eirtinguishing action is had when the Contact passes through the second chamber il and the transverse passage iii. The pressure in the main chamber 2 and also that generated in the chamber il combine to :torce at high velocity the insulating liquid through both the transa verse passage i5 and the contact opening il.

VThe arc is, therefore, finally subjected to high velocity transverse and longitudinal blasts of insulating liquid, the volume oi liquid in the chamber il insuring an adequate blast through the arc. in case additional chambers are added to the above arrangement, the arc is subjected to successive transverse blasts from the respective chambers during the opening movement of contact i. l

Invthe arrangement shown in Figs 3 and Li the wall i8 within the explosion chamber 2 and the passageway 2G in the partition 5, whereby the walled oi portion of the explosion pot is put into connection with the passageway t, are omit ted; the explosion pot il is thus conveniently of circular 'formation and is directly in communication with the transverse passage t through the movable contact opening nl.

In some cases the iirst or some of the transverse passages which are provided between the explosion chambers may have communication with associated chambers by means of addition al openings other than those through which the movable contact passes.

it should be understood that our invention ,is not limited to specific details of construction and arrangement thereof herein illustrated, and that changes and modications may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of our invention.

What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

l. A fluid-immersed circuit interrupter or" the Xplosion chamber type comprising relatively movable contacts, wall structure forming a main explosion chamber in which said contacts en gage, a comparatively restricted exhaust passage and a second explosion chamber, said main chamber having a passage communicating with said restricted passage through which one of said contacts is operable, said restricted passage extending transversely of and through the path of said operable contact, said main chamber being substantially pressure coniining immediately subsequent toy clearing of said restricted passage by said operable contact except by Way oi said restricted passage, and said second explosion chamber being substantially pressure conning except for two passages at opposite ends thereof, one of said passages communicating with said restricted passage and the other forming an exhaust passage :or said second chamber, said op erable contact upon open" g of the circuit pass ing in sequence tlirour said main explosion chamber, restricted exhaust passage second explosion chamber respectively by way of' said passages.

fr fluid-immersed circuit interruptor of the explosion chamber type comprising coacting iixed and movable contacts, wall structure including insulating members iorining a main explosion chamber in which the fixed contact iS disposed, an exhaust passage restricted in voluine as compared with said main explosion chamber, a second explosion chamber and a secondl correspondingly restricted exhaust passage, said main chamber having a passage through which the movable contact coacts with said fixed contact communicating with said first restricted passage, said first restricted passage intending transversely of and through the path oi said movable contact, said main chamber be ing substantially pressure confining immediately subsequent tc clearing of said first restricted passage by said movable contact except for said rst restricted exhaust passage, said second explosion chamber being substantially pressure confining except for a passage at one end communicating'with said rst restricted passage and a passage at the opposite end communicating with said second restricted passage, said second restricted passage likewise extending transversely of and through the path of said movable contact, said movable contact upon opening of the circuit passing sequence through said main explosion chamber, rst restricted passage, second explosion chamber and second restricted passage respectively.

ARTHUR CEPE-ILES lil-IRENBERG. 

